jealous
feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often followed by of): He was jealous of his rich brother.
feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often followed by of): He was jealous of his brother's wealth.
characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment: a jealous rage; jealous intrigues.
inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims: a jealous husband.
solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something: The American people are jealous of their freedom.
Bible. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry: The Lord is a jealous God.
Origin of jealous
1Other words from jealous
- jeal·ous·ly, adverb
- jeal·ous·ness, noun
- o·ver·jeal·ous, adjective
- o·ver·jeal·ous·ly, adverb
- o·ver·jeal·ous·ness, noun
- un·jeal·ous, adjective
- un·jeal·ous·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with jealous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use jealous in a sentence
It is not, which is why Miss Manners is not charmed by people who admit being jealous of a friend’s happy news.
Miss Manners: Time to cut ties with longtime friend? | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostAccording to legend, other members of the court were jealous of his success and his new position as admiral of the Atlantic fleet.
The Buccaneers embody Tampa’s love of pirates. Is that a problem? | Jamie Goodall | February 5, 2021 | Washington Post“So happy, yet kind of jealous that my best friend got her first vaccine today,” Diana Szymborski wrote on Twitter.
She may be upset, confused or even jealous that you have these newfound biological family members, while at the same time she has lost some family members.
Ask Amy: Adopted sister keeps birth family a secret | Amy Dickinson | January 31, 2021 | Washington PostThroughout its 800-year history, Cambridge University has guarded jealously its absolute right to free speech.
It required jealously guarding my time against all encroachments, and not picking up my cellphone when it rang.
And, a bit more jealously, who could ever garner this access?
The Stoics sought to rid themselves of all feelings that might cause pain, including jealously.
Even in the West, the health status of top leaders has often been jealously guarded.
China Roiled by Rumors and Questions About Absent Heir Apparent Xi Jinping | Melinda Liu | September 11, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe human race would do well to watch jealously and restrain firmly all superior persons.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordBoth alternatives are equally probable; and the image has always been secreted so jealously that any identification is impossible.
The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. WigramHow jealously these were guarded appears also in the unwillingness to multiply oaths of office.
A short history of Rhode Island | George Washington GreeneNothing was more jealously guarded by all these peoples than their independence and sovereign rights in the land they occupied.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 5 | Hubert Howe BancroftI knew they could never be replaced, so it behoved me jealously to guard such precious possessions.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont | Louis de Rougemont
British Dictionary definitions for jealous
/ (ˈdʒɛləs) /
suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival: a jealous lover
(often postpositive and foll by of) resentful (of) or vindictive (towards), esp through envy: a child jealous of his brother
(often postpositive and foll by of) possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of): jealous of one's reputation
characterized by or resulting from jealousy
obsolete, or biblical demanding exclusive loyalty: a jealous God
an obsolete word for zealous
Origin of jealous
1Derived forms of jealous
- jealously, adverb
- jealousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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